Birbla

Join the discussion

Write your take first — we'll ask for email only when you're ready to publish.

Sign in
  • Hacker News
  • So, counterpoint: I live in Vegas, and I know firsthand that giving my phone number (which isn’t a Vegas number) at the host stand for check-in has allowed me to bypass lines, every time.

    If you frequent restaurants owned by the same company (in this case, José Andrés), you can end up as a VIP, and they’ll treat you differently. I’ve waltzed right up with no reservation, given my phone number, get greeted by name, and get sat down instantly despite everybody in front of me getting quoted a long wait time for the same number of people. Complimentary glasses of champagne, etc.

    Even works in other cities.

    So I’m just saying, I’m kinda okay with losing my privacy in exchange for that convenience.

    by BrentOzar
  • https://archive.ph/NqgRy
    by Kaibeezy
  • I just say "can we skip that?" No one has thrown a fit yet.
    by g8oz
  • > “We try to build a database on everybody and get as much information as possible,”

    Gross.

    by cisc
  • Fake name, fake number. The faker the better.

    I'm John Hancock and you can reach me at 911

    by pluc
  • I've never ever been asked for my phone number at a restaurant. Or any contact details whatsoever. Weird.
    by wolvoleo
  • MicroCenter does this. Why do I need to give my phone number for a $2 audio cable? The poor girl at the register started breaking down when I put a 555 number and made me change it to a fake number she couldn't recognize as fake.

    What is the management doing to them over there?

    by timnetworks
  • I just use my area code followed by 867-5309. It's quick, non-confrontational, and completely lost on whatever generation is currently manning the register.
    by steelframe

Explore Birbla archives